Ouachita Stories

The 2012 Miss Ouachita Baptist University Pageant will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center on the Ouachita campus. This year, 17 women will compete for the title as they also compete for awards in lifestyle and fitness, private interview, poise and presence in evening gown, talent and onstage question.

Directors of the annual pageant are OBU alumni Justin Harper and Kirt Thomas. Becca Woodall, OBU assistant director of campus activities, as well as the special events committee of Ouachita’s Student Senate also help coordinate the event.

“Miss OBU has always been a fun memory of mine here at school,” said Aaren Crews, a senior early childhood education major from Arkadelphia who is on the Student Senate committee. “I am really excited to be behind the scenes at an event with girls who truly represent Ouachita so well.”

The 17 women competing for the crown include:

• Brooke Ault, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., representing Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity for men in music;


• Sarah Liz Carter, a sophomore math and computer science major from Norphlet, Ark., representing the Ouachita Student Foundation;


• Sydney Gibson, a freshman business finance major from Hot Springs, Ark., representing Chi Delta women’s social club;


• Alli Goodson, a freshman pre-nursing major from Stuttgart, Ark., representing Tri Chi women’s social club;


• Tori Harper, a freshman pre-nursing major from Kaufman, Texas, representing Chi Delta women’s social club;


• Brandi Hull, a junior psychology major from Longview, Texas, representing Tri Chi women’s social club;


• Lauren Jackson, a junior biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark., representing EEE women’s social club;


• Sarah Jones, a freshman theatre and mass communications major from Little Rock, Ark., representing Rho Sigma men’s social club;


• Abby Lindsey, a freshman business management major from Van Buren, Ark., representing Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE);


• Sarah McKimmey, a senior history major from Heath, Texas, representing the OBU Women’s Soccer Team;


• Emily Parker, a junior early childhood education major from Shreveport, La., representing Kappa Chi men’s social club;


• Alexis Penn, a freshman accounting major from Little Rock, Ark., representing Tri Chi women’s social club;


• Haley Prowell, a senior business finance and management major from Rogers, Ark., representing SIFE;


• MaryLacey Thomson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, representing EEE women’s social club’s 2011 pledge class;


• Natalie Way, a sophomore early childhood education major from Carlisle, Ark., representing Beta Beta men’s social club;


• Natalie Whisenant, a junior biology major from Fort Worth, Texas, representing Tri Chi women’s social club; and


• Kris Wright, a freshman pre-nursing major from Glenwood, Ark., representing EEE women’s social club’s 2012 pledge class.

Along with Kristen Glover, Miss OBU 2011, current students will serve on the Court of Honor as entertainment during the pageant, including: Stephanie Batsel, a senior music major from Mansfield, Texas; Joseph Hurst, a sophomore music major from Morrilton, Ark.; Lola McClendon, a senior musical theatre and Spanish major from Springdale, Ark.; and Kiley Wright, a junior biology major from Glenwood, Ark.

Tickets are $10 each for the general public and $5 for current Ouachita students. Tickets are available at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office from 1-5 p.m. weekdays or online at www.obu.edu/finearts. For more information, contact the box office during office hours at (870) 245-5563.